Josh Hutcherson has opened up to E! Online’s Marc Malkin, revealing that he has two gay uncles who died from AIDS in 1993, at the height of the epidemic.

Said the 19-year-old actor, who plays Peeta in TheHunger Games:

“They were in their early thirties, in great shape, but unfortunately they were taken away from us too soon. Both passed away at about the time I was born.

“My mom has always been a big advocate, especially in the gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual community so for me it’s always been a part of my soul. This is what my family is most proud of and the same for me. Acting is one thing, but actually trying to change the world and the way people think to make people’s lives better? That’s the stuff I’m most proud of.”

Aw. I’ve been #TeamPeeta since I finished the Hunger Games books, and then when I saw that Josh, who I find adorable, was cast as Peeta, I was even more #TeamPeeta. And now, regardless of my feelings for his HG character, I am #TeamJosh.

Quote from the Original eOnline article:
“… On Saturday, Hutcherson will be become the youngest recipient of the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. He joins a stellar list of past honorees, including Elizabeth Taylor, Charlize Theron and Janet Jackson. …” I posted the above quotation becuse I think it is also very relevant.

About the Chris poster somewhere above. I see similar posts all the time from tired old Queens and suspect she/he is a tired old, perhaps trans-gendered, queen. Comments about Gay life do not always have to also mention Lesbians and and references to those Tran-gendered! To be honest I am gay, 65 years old, and out since High School. Personally I made a choice to ride bulls in season and do carpentry work to support that hobby. My wonderful gay life has never revolved around those trans-gendered. I have known and loved many men, and to be honest, I have known and loved (but not had sex with) many wonderful lesbian friends.

Apr 20, 2012 at 10:02 am · @Reply ·

GinaSF

Callum what’s your point? Way to be trans-pho_bic and ignore trans people who are a part of the LGBT community just as much as everyone else that’s gay, bisexual, or lesbian is.

I remember watching Bridge to Terabithia and thinking, “This boy’s gonna be a heart-breaker in a few years.” It’s been a few years, I’m 40 years old and this boy is smokin’. As the Looney Tunes character would say as he looks at Foghorn Leghorn, “I’m a chicken hawk and YOOOUUU’RE a chicken!”

@Callum: if that was me…..i didnt give GAY HATE COMMENTS TOWARD GAY MEN COZ GAY MEN OR ALL MY BEST FRIENDS ARE GAY MEN AND I AM TRANSSEXUAL….AND THERES NOTHING WRONG SAYING THE WORD TRANSSEXUALS THATS WHY WHY CHRIS HAVE TO BE TRANS-PHOBIC TOWARD THAT WORD…..and as for u callum…..the reason why u dont know anything about transgendered/transsexual people for 65 years is because ur one of those gay men who thinks we should be segregated and be alienated by the society….i feel sorry for all those 65 wonderfull yet closed minded years

Apr 20, 2012 at 12:16 pm · @Reply ·

sheena

we trans woman supports GAYS LESBIANS AND BISEXUAL PEOPLE…..but we DONT celebrate those specific GAY PEOPLE who i have no idea why the hate with transsexuals/transgender…….I DONT GET IT WHY YOU GONNA HATE AND SEGREGATE?…..does that make u feel better to abuse the most victimized part of the lgbt community?……that itself is bullying sweetie

Apr 20, 2012 at 12:22 pm · @Reply ·

Chris

Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy on the rage… I was trying to be funny. And NO, I was not suggesting it should just be “LGB.” It’s just that “transgender” is the preferred term nowadays, not “transsexual.”

The point was that while his intention is awesome, if he accidentally uses the wrong word people will RAGE at him. As has been proven by some people in these comments. Thanks. But don’t think I’m excluding anyone. I always spell LGBT with a T.

Oh, and I just noticed my phone left out a word earlier. The post should have read “That really is very sad, and kind of him.”

Apr 20, 2012 at 1:06 pm · @Reply ·

Mangina

Josh is a great example of actors using their celebrity to promote GLBT issues and tolerance. Breaking down the walls of homophobia little by little.

Some people say actor or actress XYZ is helping the LGBT community and I am baffled to see why that is said. Yet, there are definitely some straight celebrities like THIS GUY who are standing out to help. Speaking of celebrities that I can’t figue out, what have Angelina and Brad done that is so great? They said something about a “wait until equality” as to their own wedding – but have they been doing more than that? NOT to criticize them. I am just not aware of anything and yet everyone says they’re big advocates. Have they done a NO H8 picture? Are they in any PSAs? Are they at the White House talking about LGBT issues? What is it?

Apr 20, 2012 at 1:47 pm · @Reply ·

hamoboy

@Chris: But the only person who’s “RAGED” at him is your dumb, supposedly-ironic ass…

Apr 20, 2012 at 5:33 pm · @Reply ·

jason

I know this might sound harsh but AIDS sufferers are not these poor innocent people. Their condition is often the result of unfettered promiscuity. This includes having sex with complete and utter strangers from far-flung corners of the globe who have congregated in bath-houses and the like. Such a concentration is the perfect test-tube for pathogen propagation.

Apr 20, 2012 at 6:29 pm · @Reply ·

Wels

@jason:
I was gonna post some long reply. But I’ll keep it short. “You’re ignorant”

Apr 20, 2012 at 7:49 pm · @Reply ·

Dave

Gee Jason that’s funny. Most people I know who are HIV+ or who have had AIDS and died from AIDS-heterosexuals included-got infected not by being highly promiscuous but they were infected by a partner, someone they were dating, a blood transfusion or sharing IVs. I also know people who were born HIV+.

This happened in the 70s and 80s before safer sex and safe IV drug use was known about and blood was not tested for HIV as there was no HIV/AIDS test at the time at all and they didn’t really even know what HIV/AIDS was just that lots of bisexual and gay men were dying from a strange disease that they thought was a rare new type of cancer caused by poppers.

Apr 20, 2012 at 8:27 pm · @Reply ·

Riker

@Chris: Actually, I think transgenders and transsexuals are different things. Exactly what the distinction is I’m not sure, though.

Apr 20, 2012 at 8:42 pm · @Reply ·

James

Riker-Yet Trans Inc. wants to claim that they’re the same, and yet that drag queens or media that has drag queens in it like Ru Paul’s drag race or shows and movies about men dressing in drag including the classic movie ‘Some like it HOT!’ are all Transphobic. It’s PC overkill and censorship at it’s finest and then of course GLAAD steps in.

Apr 20, 2012 at 9:00 pm · @Reply ·

samo

I admire him for being an activist but shouldn’t the GLAAD vanguard award go to someone who’s actually gay? That’s like THENAACP giving a special award to the jonas brothers. No wonder everyone thinks GLAAD is a joke

Apr 20, 2012 at 10:13 pm · @Reply ·

jason

First of all, HIV doesn’t cause AIDS. AIDS is a serious condition but it’s due to a decline in the immune system as a result of lifestyle choices that are not normal. For instance, partying until 7 in the morning is not normal. The human body needs to sleep to revitalize itself. When you fail to get your normal sleep, your immune system deteriorates.

It’s no coincidence that AIDS in gay men arose at the same time that all-night dance parties were becoming popular along with the use of amyl nitrate and international mingling facilitated by airplane travel. All these factors contributed to a decline in the immune system.

The party set refuses to believe that its promiscuity and general all-round permissiveness caused AIDS. They would much rather believe in the incorrect viral theory. That way, the party can continue non-stop.

Apr 20, 2012 at 10:35 pm · @Reply ·

David1950

Jason, what year are you living in? 1984?

Yes all night partying, lack of sleep, jet lag, and using drugs can damage your immune system but you’d have to have HIV first, a very low T-Cell/CD4 count, and not every single bisexual or gay man or person of the large number of people who have died of AIDS was into all of these things.

I know a lot of men and women who were not into going to discos/bars, and partying all night who wound up dying of AIDS.

In Africa and parts of Asia where thousands or probably millions of people have died of AIDS you don’t see people using drugs, going to bars/discos or clubs, and sniffing Amyl/poppers.

Apr 20, 2012 at 10:52 pm · @Reply ·

jason

In Africa, there are other immune system-destroying conditions, such as malaria and famine. There are MANY things that can damage the immune system. Consider all the people who have damaged immune systems but no HIV in their systems.

Apr 21, 2012 at 1:27 am · @Reply ·

Mark

@Chris: what is your problem? It’s a valid and legitimate word. You need to grow up and get that huge huge chip off your shoulder.

Apr 21, 2012 at 7:35 am · @Reply ·

Mark

@jason: Obviously you know nothing of Ryan White who got the virus through a blood transfusion. You need to get educated! Yes, sexual transmission is the chief cause but some get it from their partner, sheesh – stop being so goddamned judgmental. It must get awfully lonely on that pedestal all by yourself.

Apr 21, 2012 at 7:37 am · @Reply ·

jason

To my knowledge, Ryan White had pre-existing conditions that may have affected his immune system. The presence of HIV in the transfused blood may have been incidental rather than causal to his condition. No doubt, he was mercilessly exploited by the gay crowd for reasons that were selfish rather than in Ryan’s best interests.

Apr 21, 2012 at 9:35 am · @Reply ·

Scott

Josh Hutcherson joins the ranks of celebrity class acts which include the likes of but is not limited to: Daniel Radcliffe, Chris Evans, and Judith Light.

Apr 21, 2012 at 11:15 am · @Reply ·

Matt

@jason Actually, Ryan White had hemophilia which is a caused by a mutation in his genome encoding for specific clotting factors. Without these clotting factors patients can easily bleed to death from cuts or tears in their vessels that people without the mutation can easily clot off. Ryan needed weekly blood transfusions to get normal clotting factors so that he would not bleed to death if he happened to sustain an injury. Hemophilia DOES NOT in any way effect an individual’s immune system. Ryan White got AIDS because he got HIV through a blood transfusion. Of course, you can make the argument that because someone has HIV and does not live a healthy lifestyle. But considering that HIV has been proven over and over again to infect and KILL CD4+ T cells (and other immune receptor + cells specific to the immune system) it is clearly the direct causative agent of AIDS. I think it would be impossible to find a single infectious disease doctor who does not believe the cause of AIDS is HIV… Do you think it’s all just some big conspiracy or something?

Apr 21, 2012 at 11:43 am · @Reply ·

Let's be real here

Jason is nothing but an HIV/AIDS denialist.

Apr 21, 2012 at 2:58 pm · @Reply ·

jason

Matt,

There are lots of things that can kill T cells. Ever heard of people with low T cell counts but no HIV in their bodies? There’s quite a few of them.

Apr 21, 2012 at 7:29 pm · @Reply ·

Anonymous

Oh, I am sorry for the loss of his Josh’s uncles death of Aids. Well, my cousin also died of Aids, and the wife of my uncle died of Aids. But my uncle did not die of Aids. He died of heart attack before she died of Aids. I wondered how come this woman have had Aids? It is scary. Aids attacks on any gender. It seems paranormal.

It’s my boi Josh!!! Damn he is smokin’ hot! I have always loved him as an actor, but when I found out he fights for LGBT rights too, my love for him quadrupled twice. The same thing happened with Kellan Lutz… It makes life bearable to know your favs are fighting for something you believe in. If I was straight, I would totally join SBNN!

May 18, 2012 at 6:36 pm · @Reply ·

Chuck

This is my understanding but it could be flawed. Gender refers to pychology, while sex refers to biology. Gender is man, woman or genderqueer. Sex is male, female or intersex. Transgender is a blanket term for anyone whose body does not reflect the gender that they feel, while transexual describes those who have actually had medical procedures to change their biological sex to be in accordance with their gender.